autoratus

Autoratus is a term found in Latin-language legal and administrative texts, generally interpreted as referring to the act of authorizing something or to a document that records such authorization. In Latin, related forms derive from auctor, meaning author or originator, and the adjectival suffix -atus, giving a sense akin to “made by authority” or “authorized.” The precise sense of autoratus varies by context; in some sources it denotes permission granted by an authority, while in others it functions as a label for a document authorizing a specified action.

In medieval and early modern charters and records, forms resembling autoratus appear to signal that an action or privilege had received official approbation from a ruler, bishop, or other office-holder. It is not a standard term in modern English law, and its use tends to be limited to historical discussions or Latin glossaries. Contemporary scholars often treat it as a historical Latin term found in specific codices rather than a living legal concept.

Etymology: From auctor, meaning “author” or “creator,” plus a passive participial suffix, yielding a sense of “having been authorized” or “that which authorizes.” Distinctions should be kept with auctoritas (authority or prestige) and auctor (author). In modern writing, the concept of authorization remains central, but the label autoratus is rarely employed outside of Latin-text studies.

See also: auctoritas; auctor; authorization; Latin legal vocabulary.